Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer: Qui Bono?

Ovarian cancer is a major cause of cancer related-death in women around the world. Recent statistics on the worldwide cancer burden by the International Agency for the research on Cancer revealed ovarian cancer being both the eighth most frequent malignancy in the west countries. Peritoneal metastasis from ovarian cancer is a major challenge in the clinical management. Despite the evidence of the benefit of Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in ovarian cancer with peritoneal deposits it has not been widely adopted, mainly due to logistical difficulties and less to the logoregional morbidity as pain. The role of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients during the end of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) is a more tolerable feasible method with potential advantages as drug distribution, combination with hyperthermia and application before tumor regrowth. The aim of this article is to investigate the potential benefits of HIPEC explains the rationale, data of major clinical trials meta-analyses and recent randomized trial are presented and explains the indications patient selection and the best time to applicate of this aggressive logo regional treatment.